A REMNDER AS YOU CELEBRATE CHRSTMAS: Whatever gft you gve your non-Chrstian frend or relatve, remember that nothing is more meaningful - and eternal - than being sure they understand the "reason for the season." I pray that whatever fear of rejection or otherwise that makes you hesitate will be overcome by the certainty that "loving that person means taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God."
Let God use you and see if He will yet surprise you!
I do hope that you and yours have a very blessed Christmas! - Stan
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST: My long-time friend, Alex, hopes to have an opportunity to share the gospel with his Mom this Christmas. PRAY that her heart would be open and that she might respond to the invitation to trust in Christ.
Let God use you and see if He will yet surprise you!
I do hope that you and yours have a very blessed Christmas! - Stan
CHRISTMAS Funnies (c/o of MikeysFunnies.com):
* WHAT NATIONALITY IS SANTA CLAUS? – North Polish
* WHY DOES SCROOGE LOVE RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED
REINDEER? – Because every buck is dear to him.
* WHAT DO YOU CALL A BUNCH OF GRANDMASTERS
OF CHESS BRAGGING ABOUT THEIR GAMES
IN A HOTEL LOBBY? – Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer
* HOW DO SHEEP IN MEXICO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS?
– Fleece Navidad!
* WHY DOES SCROOGE LOVE RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED
REINDEER? – Because every buck is dear to him.
* WHAT DO YOU CALL A BUNCH OF GRANDMASTERS
OF CHESS BRAGGING ABOUT THEIR GAMES
IN A HOTEL LOBBY? – Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer
* HOW DO SHEEP IN MEXICO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS?
– Fleece Navidad!
Decorations, red, green lights;
Top fir trees with stars so bright;
Jingle bells rock on silent night.
Here comes Santa in his sleigh.
Mistletoe and boughs of holly,
Red-nosed reindeer, elves so jolly,
But it seems a bit of folly
When it's only Veterans' Day.
As I watch the people flocking
To buy stuff to fill up stockings,
Comes a thought that's rather shocking:
What's it all for, anyway?
Fair young woman, great with child,
Trudges on, mile after mile.
Poor, but loving fiance
Encourages her on their way.
They come to their ancestral town,
Where there's no bed to lay her down,
And little sympathy awaits
The unwed couple. Shown the gate,
Seeking refuge from the chill
They find a cave up on a hill
That's used in wintertime for sheep.
It will do. They'll try to sleep.
They enter in. The odors choke:
Sheep manure, stale soot and smoke.
There amidst the stench and dung,
She gives birth to God's own Son,
Wraps Him up in strips of cloth,
Lays Him in a rocky trough.
If God was going to come to earth,
Why choose this foul place for birth?
Not a place of wealth and style,
Not a place fit for a child.
If He would come, His life to give,
Was there a worse place He could live?
A cruder place to get His start?
I know of one such place: my heart.
So dress in colorful apparel,
Trim a tree and sing a carol,
Ride the sleigh and hark the herald,
Make those presents look real nice.
As the weather outside freezes,
And the pressure of life squeezes,
Keep your hearts and minds on Jesus,
His tremendous sacrifice.
Born in filth and poverty,
To suffer pain and cruelty,
To be born again in such as me:
There's no Christmas without Christ.
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Copyright 2011 Gene Westveer. Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.
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